Computing machine



June 5, 1923.

B. C. STICKNEY COMPUTING MACHINE Filed March 5 1921 CDC) Patented June 5, 1923.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURNHAM C. STICKNEY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD COMPUTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COMPUTING MACHINE.

Application filed larch 5, 1921. serial no. 449,810.

To all whoin it may concern NEY a citizen of the United States, residing in lizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Computing Machines,of which the following is a spec1- fication.

. This invention relates to improved means for ascertaining the extent of overdraft in a computing machine, and is herein illustrated in connection with an adding ma- .chine of the Underwood-Hanson type.

. This invention is in the natureof an improvement on the invention disclosed in the ap'plicaton of Louis E. Giles, Serial No. 321,616, filed September 4, 1919 (now Pat- Vent No. 1,370,426, granted March 1, 1921).

Heretofore, it has been pro osed to provide the number-wheels or members of the computin machine with one set of digits, usually b ack, to indicate positive numbers, and another set of digits, usually red, to in dicate negative numbers, and also to provide a sight-opening of triple size through which may be read not only the black digits in one line or row on the wheels, but also two lines or rows of red digits next to the line of black digits, the amount of the overdraft being obtained by reading certain digits in one-of said lines of red digits, and the remaining digits, in the other line of said red digits, a certain rule being followed for this purpose. 1

It has also been proposed to employ a movable screen or shutter, which may be shifted from side to side as required. and which will direct attention to those digits which represent the exact amount of the overdraft, so that no mental calculation is required. Inasmuch as the shutter must in some cases be shifted substantially the length'of the register, it is necessarily of a length substantially, double the length of the register, and the construction is objectionable for that reason.

The object of this invention is to provide an improvement over the screen or reading device refered to, and particularly to overcome the. objection which arises from using a screen or shutter of substantially double the length oi. the register.

In obtaining such results, provision may be made of a set-of individual screens or shutters, one for each number-wheel, and each of these shutters may be provided with an aperture of such size as to expose a digit on a number-wheel or dial element when brou ht into register therewith. Normally, the s utters occupy positions in a row, so that only the black digits in the positive readmg row are visible, but, when'an overdraft occurs, the operator may shift some of the screens in one direction and the others in the o posite direction, thereby covering the digits in the line of black or positive digits and uncovering certain red digits in each of the lines for reading negative results, so that a reading of the correct amount of overdraft is red. Usually the black digit of highest denomination in the line of digits from which a positive result is read is left exposed so that the positive or negative chargcter of the result may be determined there The shutters may be in the form of slides having finger-pieces at their front ends, whereby they may be shifted either forwardly or rearwardl and suitable detent means may be providZd for yieldably securing each shutter in each of its three reading positions. For this purpose, each shutter may be provided with three depressions and a yieldin detent may be provided to cooperate t erewith. If desired, the shutters may be mounted in a single frame suitable to. attach to the cover-plate of the registers in an adding machine.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of an Underwood-Hanson bookkeeping machine, showing the present invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional side view of the register and,the reading device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view on an enlarged scale of the register shown in Figure 1, the shutters being positioned to expose the digits in the row from which positive results are read.

Figure 4 is a developed view of the periphery of one of the number-wheels used in connection with the present invention.

Figure 5 is a view, partly in section, alongthe line extending across the apertures when the slides or screens are positioned as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the screens or slides.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 3, certain parts being omitted, but with the screens positioned as determined by the last significant figure oi the complement of the negative result, which, as shown in this figure, is on the units wheel.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7. but with the screens positioned in accordance with the position of the last significant fig ure of the complement of the negative result, which, in this figure, is on the fourth computing wheel from the right.

The Underwood-Hanson bookkeeping ma-- chine, in connection with which this invention is illustrated, includes I a typewriter frame 10, a computer casing 11, typewriter keys, including numeral lreys 12, and numher-wheels 13, the latter beingrevolubly mounted in the casing 11 and actuable for addition or subtraction by computingmechanism including raclebars 14- having oneway connections with said number-wheels one form of such mechanism being disclosed in the atent to Hans Hanson, No. 1,27 8,812,

grants September 10,1918

The positive and negative digits 15 and 16, respectively, are preferably shown on the number-wheels as usual in black and red, respectively, and are indicated on the drawings by means of solid and open figures, respectively. I 7

As shown in Figure 4:, the positive digits are arranged in one direction around the periphery of each wheel, and the negative digits are arranged in the opposite direc: tion, so that each positive digit is complementary to the base nine of the negative digit positioned below the same and'coin ple'mentary to the base ten of the negative digit placed above the same, the only exception being due to the fact that the black and red zeros are adjoining. The positive and negative digits for each number-wheel may be inscribed on a celluloid strip of substantially the usual form.

Machines of this character are used only for computations in-which-the results lie sutficiently within the range of the register that no digit of a result will be registered on the wheel of highest denomination, this wheel serving only to indicate whether the result is positive or negative being moved for algebraic computation backward and forward only one step to show a positive 0 through the sight-opening 17 thereby indicating apositive result,-or to show a positive .9 through said sight-opening, thereby indicating a negative result.

In case the positive 0 lies in the sightopening, the result is positive and may be read from the positive digits exposed at the sight-opening, and, in case a positive 9 lies at the sight-opening, the number read from the positive digits will be the complement of the correct negative result. which may be read by means of the nega' tive digits complementary to the base nine of the positive digits at the sight-opening, until the last significant digit of the positive digits is reached, and then by readin negative digits which are complementary" to the base ten of the remaining positive digits. It will be evident that, it the machine is used for addition only or if used for addition and subtraction in which the results are always positive, the number-wheel of highest denomination may be used in such computation and will not need to be reserved to indicate an overdraft or negative result.

In order to facilitate the reading of negative results, provision is made of shutters or screens in the form of slides 18, one for each number-wheel and provided withapertures 19 of sufiicient size to expose a digit on one of the number-wheels when a shutter is brought into register therewith. The slides 18 are mounted side by side on a plate 20, and are held thereon by any suitable means, such as a cover-plate 21, which has an opening 22 of substantially the same size as the sight-opening 17, and which is substantially in register therewith. The cover-plate 21 may be secured to the plate 20 and to the casing 11 by any suitable means. such as screws 23.

(r the r Each of the slides 18 is provided with an upturned end to form a handle 24-, and

this handle is so positioned that, when brought into contact with-the forward edge of the cover-plate 21. the apertures 19 will lie over the negative digits in the row above that of the positive digits exposed through the sight-opening. The plate 20 is provided with a flange 25 so positioned that, when the handle 2t is brought into contact therewith, the aperture 19 of each slide will be brought into position to expose a negative digit in the row lying beneath the row of positive digits.

To enable the readin of positive and negative results, each slide 18 is shiftable llL';

26 may be provided with a pin 28 extending through an opening 29 in the cover-plate 21 and having a rounded lower end so shaped that it may be seated .in any one of three recesses 30 in slide 18, these recesses being spaced in accordance with the positions assumed by the slide for reading digits-in the different rows exposed through the sight-opening.

In ordinary use, the parts will be positioned as shown in Figure 3, and the positive results will be read from the positive digits exposed through the apertures 19, the slides 18 being in their middle positions where they areyieldably held by the detent means hereinbefore described. In such computation, the;(l on the number-wheel of highest denomination will be shown through the corresponding aperture 19. \Vhen, however, the digit 0, disappears and the digit 9 appears in its place, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the result is negative.

As indicated by the 9 appearing on the number-wheel of highest denomination in Figure 3, the result is negative, and the number read through the apertures is the complement of the correct negative result. To obtain a correct reading of the negative result, all of the slides, with the exception oft-he last, will be-moved down- .rect reading wardly to the position shown in Figure 7, exposing therethrough the digits in the lower row of negative digits, and the slide corresponding to the number-wheel of lowest denomination will be shifted upwardly to show a digit from the upper row of negative digits. The correct negative result will then be shown, all digits not included therein being covered at the sight-opening 17 by the slides 18.

In the case just referred to, the. last significant digit of the complement of the negative result appeared onthenumber-wheel of lowest denomination,v but, as shown in Figure 8, the last significant digit of the complement of the negative result appears on the fourth number-wheel from the right, and, in order to expose digits giving the corfor the negative result, the slides 18 for all of the wheels to the left of thefourth number wheel from the right will be shifted downwardly to show therethrough digits in the lower row of negative digits. and the remaining slides willv be shifted upwardly to expose digits in the upper row of negative digits, the correct negative result being 5,698,000.

If desired. the slide 18 for the numberwheel of highest denomination may always be left in the position shown in Figure 3, and. in such a case. no attention will be paid to the digit exposed on the highest the result being read from the digits exposed on the other number-wheels.

Inasmuch as the slides 18 are mounted entirely on the plate 20, the reading device including the plate 20, the slides 18, and the cover-plate 21 can be conveniently applied to an adding machine of a form previously in use, and, by providing individual shutters shiftable from front to rear, less room transversely of the machine will be required than is the case when a. shutter shiftable transversely of the machine is used.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

. Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an algebraic computing machine, the combination with number-wheels having digits to represent positive values and other digits to represent negative values, of means to indicate a row of positive digits from which positive results are to be read and two rows of negative digits from which negative results may be read, partly from one row and partly from the other, and a series of individual shutters overlying the respective number-wheels, each of said shutters having an aperture of suflicient size to expose a single digit, said shutters being movable to posltions to expose the digits of the positive-reading row when positive results are to be read, and to expose negative digits in the negative-reading rows when negative results are to be read. "2. In an algebraic computing machine, the combination with number-wheels having digits to represent positive values and other digits to represent negative values, of means to indicate a row of positive digits from which positive results may be read and two rows of negative digits from which negative results may be read, partly from one row and partly from the other. a series of individual shutters overlying the respective number-wheels, each of said shutters having an aperture of sufficient size to expose a single digit, said shutters being movable to positions to expose the digits of the positive-reading row when positive results are to be read and to expose negative digits in the negative-reading rows when negative results are to be read, and detent means for yieldably holding the shutters in any of the reading positions to which they may be.

moved.

3. A reading attachment for use in an algebraic computing machine in which positive results may be read from a row of positive digits on the number-wheels of the register and negative results may be read from two rows of negative digits adjacent said row of positive digits and lying on opposite sides thereof, comprising a frame,

iii)

Lg, inseam and series of shutters therein, each of which will overlie a number-wheel when the attachment is in position, and is -provided with an aperture to expose a single digit when placed in register therewith, said shutters being shiftable to positions to expose through the apertures thereof digits of the positive row or digits of either of the negative rows.

i. A reading attachment for use in an algebraic computing machine in which positive results may he read from a row of positive digits on the number-wheels of the register and negative results may be read from two rows of negative digits adjacent said row of positive digits and lying on opposite sides thereof, comprising a frame, a series of shutters therein, each of which will overlie a number-wheel whenthe attachment is in position, and is provided with an aperture to expose a single digit when placed in register therewith, said shutters being shiftable to positions to expose through the apertures thereof digits of the positive row or digits of either of the negative rows, and limiting means to prevent movement of any one of said shutters in either direction beyond the point at which it exposes a digit in the corresponding negative row through its aperture.

5. A reading attachment for use in an algebraic computing machine in which positive results may be read from a row of positive digits on the number-wheels of the register and negative results may be read from two rows of negative digits adjacent said row of positive digits and lyin on opposite sides thereof, comprising a rams, a series of shutters therein, each of which will overlie anumber-wheel when the attachment is in position, and is provided with an aperture to expose a single digit when placed in register therewith, said shutters being shiftable to positions toexpose through the apertures thereof digits of the positive row or digits of either of the negative rows, and 'detent means to yieldably hold each of said shutters in any one of its reading positions.

6; Areading attachment for use in an algebraic computing machine in which positive results may be read from a row of positive digits on the number-wheels of the register and negative results may be read from two rows of negative digits adjacent said row of positive digits and lyin on op posits sides thereof, comprising a 'rame, a series of shutters therein, each of which will overlie a number-wheel when the attachment is in position, and is provided with an aperture to expose a single digit when placed in register therewith, said shutters losing shiftable to positions to expose through the apertures thereof di its of the positive row or digits of either of? the negative rows, limiting means to prevent movement of any one of said shutters in either direction beyond the position to expose a digit in the corresponding negative row through its aperture, and detent means to yieldably hold each of saidshutters in any one of its reading positions.

7. In a algebraic con'iputing machine, the combination with number-wheels having digits to represent positive values and other digits to represent negative values, so that positive results may be read from one row of positive figures andnegative results may 1 J- a n be read from two rows or negatlvedigits,

partly from one row and partly from the other, of individual reading shutters mounted above the respective number-wheels, each of said shutters being so shaped that it may be moved to different positions so as to expose a digit in any one of the three reading rows and to conceal the digits on the corresponding number-wheel lying in the other reading rows.

8. In an algebraic computing machine, the combination with number-wheels having digits to represent positive values and other digits to represent negative values, so that positive results may be read from one row of positive figures and negative results may be read from two rows of negative digits, partly from one row and partly from the other, of individual reading shutters mounted above the respective number-wheels, each of said shutters being so shaped that it may be moved to different positions to expose a digit in any one of the three reading rows and to conceal the digits on the corresponding number-wheel lying in the other reading rows, and a detent device for each of said shutters for yicldably holding the same in any one of its reading positions.

9. In an adding and subtracting machine, the combination with a series of dials having positive and negative digits thereon, of shift-able shutters individual to said dials and having single-digits-exposing windows, said shutters normally in central positions, a negative result being exposed by shifting the shutter of the last dial to the right showing a significant digit thereon and also all shutters to the right, in one direction, and the remaining shutters in the opposite direction.

10. In an algebraic computing machine, in combination, a set of number-wheels having positive and negative digits thereon, and meansto facilitate the reading of,positivc andinegative results comprising a shutter for each number-wheel shiftable to three positions toexpose in one of said positions a positive digit and in each of the other positions a negative digit on the correspondmg number-wheel.

11. In combination, a register for an algeloraic computing machine comprising numher-wheels having thereon positive and negative digits, and a device for each denomination, shiftable to one position to direct attention to a digit of one kind and to two other positionsto direct attention to two digits of the other kind to enable results of either kind to be read from. the register.

12. In an algebraic computing machine, the combination with number-wheels having digits to represent positive values and other digits to represent negative values, so that positive results may be read from one row and negative results from two rows adjacent thereto and on opposite sides thereof, of a series of devices, one for each number-wheel, to direct attention to the di its of the positive row when positive resu ts are to be read, and to direct attention to certain digits in the other two rows when negative results are to be read.

13. In an algebraic computing machine, the combination with number-wheels having digits to represent positive values and other digits to represent negative values, so that positive results may be read from one row and negative results from two rows adjacent thereto and on opposite sides thereof, of a. reading device of substantially the same length as the register, whereby the digits in the two negative rows may be covered when a positive result is to be read, and the digits in the positive row covered and certain digits in the two negative rows exposed when a negative value is to be read.

1 1. In an algebraic computing machine, the combination with number-wheels having digits to represent positive values and other digits to represent negative values, so that positive results may be read from one row and negative results from two rows adjacent thereto and on opposite sides thereof, of a plurality of shutters overlying the respective number-wheels, said shutters be: in movable to positions to cover the digits 111%)01311 of the negative rows When'a positive result is to be read, and to positions to expose certain digits in one negative row, and

located on adjacent number-wheels, and digits 0n the other number-wheels located in the other negative row.

15. A shutter for use with a dial of a register in an adding'and subtracting machine in which a positive result is read from a central row of ositive-digits and negative results are rea from two rows of negative digits on the opposite sidesof said cen tral row, said shutter comprising a plate provided with a single-digit-exposing win- 7 dow, and shiftable to expose any one of the three digits of said dial lying in the three rows.

. 16. A shutter for use with a dial of a register-in an adding and subtracting ma chine in which a positive result is read from a central row of positive digits and negative results are read from two rows of negative digits on the opposite sides of said central row, said shutter comprising a plate provided with a single-digit-exposing window and with an upstanding finger-piece for shifting the same.

17. In combination, a set of dials having positive and ne ative digits thereon, indi vidual slidable shuttershaving single-digitexposing windows, and a retaining plate for said shutters having spring detents thereon individual to said shutters.

18. In combination, a set of dials having positive and negative digits thereon, individual slidable shutters having single digitexposing windows and having upstanding finger-pieces, and a retaining plate for said shuttershaving spring detents thereon individual to said shutters.

19. In combination, a set of dials having positive and negative digits thereon, individual slidable shutters havingsingle-digitexposing windows and having upstanding finger-pieces, and a retaining plate for said shutters having spring detents thereon individual to said shutters, one edge of said retaining plate acting as a stop to be engaged by said finger-pieces for checking the movement of the shutters in one direction.

20. In combination, a set of dials having positive and negative digits thereon, individual slidable shutters havingsingle-digit-exposing windows, and a retaining plate for said shutters having spring detents thereon individual. to said shutters, each of said spring detents having a projection extending through an opening in the retaining plate to seat itself in depressions provided in the reorresponding shutter.

21. In combination, a set of dials, each having a setof positive digits arranged in one direction andnegative digits arranged to provide on one side of each positive digit a negative digit complementary thereto to thebase nine and on the opposite side thereof a negative digit complementary thereto to the base ten, and a set of single-digit-exposing shutters, one for each dial, shi'ftable to expose on the dial the positive di it in a reading row when a positive result is to be read or to expose onevof thenegative digits on the opposite sides of the positive digit when a negative result is to be read.

'22. In combination, a set of dials, each having a set of positive digits arranged in 1 one direction and negative digits arranged to provide on one side of each positive digit a negative digit complementary thereto to the base nine and on the opposite side thereof a negative digit complementary thereto to the base ten, and a set of single-digit-exposing opposite sides of the positive digit when a negative result is to be read, each of said shutters shiftable in a direction, around the corres onding dial.

23. n combination, a set of dials, each having a set of positive digits arranged in one direction and negative digits arranged to provide on one side of each positive digit a negative digit complementary thereto to the base nine and on the opposite side thereof a negative digit complementary thereto to the base ten, a set of single-di it-exposing shutters, one for each dial, shi able to expose on the dial the positive digit in a reading row when a positive result is to be read or to expose one of the negative digits on the opposite sides of the positive digit when a negative result is to be read, and devices to detain said shutters in adjusted position.

24. A reading attachment for an adding and subtracting machine, comprising a register having a pluralityof dials, each provided with a set of positive digits arranged therearound in one direction and a series of negative digits positioned in the intervals between the positive digits and arranged in the opposite order, and a casing provided with a sight exposing three rows of digits, including a central row of positive digits and side rowsv of negative digits, said reading attachment being of substantially the width of said register and comprising means shiftable only in the direction of the peripheries of said dials to expose digits in the central row for reading positive results and to expose digits ofcertain denominations in one side row and digits of the remaining denominations in the other side row when negative results are to be read.

25. In an adding and subtracting machine, in combination, a set of dials having positive and negative digits thereon, and a plurality of shutters, one for each dial shiftable to a central position to expose a positive digit and to positions at the sides of said central position to expose negative digits, one or more of said shutters at the left being shifted in one direction from their central positions and the remainder being shifted in the opposite direction, as indicated by the reading on the positive digits, when a negative result is to be read.

26. In an adding and subtracting machine, in combination, a set of dials having positive'and negative digits thereon, a plueeann in the opposite direction, as indicated by the reading on the positive digits, when a negative result is to be read, detents to determine the central positions, and stops to determine the positions at opposite sides of the central positions.

27. In an adding and subtracting machine, in combination, a set of dials having positive and negative digits thereon, a plurality of shutters, one for each dial shiftable to a central position to expose a positive digit and to positions at the sides of said central position to expose negative digits, one or moreof said shutters at the left being shifted in one direction from their central positions and the remainder being shifted in the opposite direction, as indicated by the read inglon the positive digits, when a negative result is to be read, a tinger-piece fo each shutter for shifting the latter, and stops cooperating with the finger-pieces to check the shutters when they reach either of their limiting posit-ions at the opposite sides of their central positions.

28.111 combination, a set of dial-wheels having positive and negative digits thereon, a casing for said dial-wheels having a sightopening to expose a central row of positive digits and two rows of negative digits on the opposite sides of the central row, and a reading device attachable to said casing, said reading device comprising a base having an opening to register \vithsaid sight-opening and provided with an upstanding flange parallel to said rows of digits, shutters individual to said dial-Wheels and slidable on I said base, said shutters limited in one direction by said flange, and a retaining plate overlying said shutters to hold them on said base, the edge of said retaining plate adjacent said fiange serving as a stop for said shutters in their movement away from the flange.

BURNHAM C. STICliNEY.

Witnesses: I

EDITH B. LIBBEY, JENNIE P. THORNE. 

